ADELAIDE’S West End voted top 3 best by Lonely Planet

“The West End has emerged as a traveller triple threat offering visitors brilliant experiences morning, noon and night. ”

Adelaide is laid out on a strict grid of streets with King William Street running from north to south down the middle, dividing the east and the west. The West End of Adelaide, which has successfully transformed into a dining hub along Rundle Street and Hutt Street, has long been regarded the place to go for a civilised night out – well away from the rowdier crowd along the western Hindley Street.

But the West End has changed in the past five years, luring the small bar scene and food lovers to the other side of town. Lonely Planet has cottoned on – their APAC Media Spokesperson and Sales & Marketing Director Chris Zeiher is an Adelaide boy – and have ranked the west as the best.

“Previously maligned for its salacious past, Adelaide’s West End is no longer a no-go zone,” says Chris while promoting the guidebook’s latest launches.

He suggests a wander down pedestrian friendly laneways home to award-winning bars and restaurants such as Pink Moon Saloon, or sample freshly farmed Coffin Bay oysters at Adelaide Central Market. Or a visit to the “futuristic SAMHRI building and marvel at its dramatic juxtaposition to the colonial beauty of the precinct’s other architectural gems such as Adelaide’s GPO”.

The influential publisher has named the neighbourhood as the place to go right now, along with Newstead in Brisbane and Maylands in Perth.

They say the area — which includes the revived Leigh, Peel and Bank streets, the Central Markets and arguably one of the state’s hottest buildings, SAHMRI — is a huge drawcard for both national and international tourists.

Last year, Lonely Planet named South Australia as one of the top places across the world to visit in 2017.

Tourism Minister Leon Bignell said it was “fantastic” to see Lonely Planet recognising South Australia again.

“We have some of the best South Australian produce showcased in the West End of Adelaide and I’m sure this will encourage more international travellers to visit, contributing to our record $6.3 billion visitor economy,” he said.

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